Healthy weight gain / General Fitness

Ostrom

Any help apprecitated - and thanks for reading in advance!

I am currently (according to my seldom used wii-fit) underweight at just under 11 stone, 6ft 3". I lost a lot of weight recently without any significant change in diet (although stress has gone up - I'm trying to finish phd and have a high teaching load) - which leaves me confined to a chair for 9+ hours a day (and usually, without realising, hunched over in concentration - I get a bit intense when absorbed).

I have a back injury from a number of years ago which has made it painful to exercise my left leg - other than that, no significant impediments. I walk as briskly as I can to and from work every day which takes about 15 minutes each way, and I recently had a stress ECG (EKG?) and was able to tolerate the higher levels well (all ok there too). My diet is crap and consists mainly of cereals, yogurt and sandwiches for lunch and some sort of stir fry for dinner. I eat plenty of crisps and choc bars throughout the week too. I dont drink or smoke - ever (quit smoking 2 years ago, drinking 4 years ago).

General feeling of unwell without any underlying medical cause, recent severe lower back pain and constant tiredness have led me to here so - can anyone tell me what I should be doing?

Based on my reading thus far, I'm thinking weights to do at home? I know I wont be able to stick to a gym routine (despite the fact that I have free access which I should have used long ago....) given the variable workload. Combined with a serious revision in diet and longer walking route to work, does this sound like an ok start?

- Thanks again

Khannie

efla wrote: »

does this sound like an ok start?

You could do worse. If you're generally feeling crap, you'll probably find that improving your diet and starting to exercise (i.e. building up a sweat) will see fairly significant improvement fairly quickly.

Do you enjoy any sports?

Procasinator

Consider dropping into a doctor. While I doubt there is anything to worry about, if you feel that there has not been any significant change in diet or energy expenditure (i.e. exercise) and have lost a significant amount of weight it might be worthwhile checking.

It probably is related to the stress, though, as you said.

Considering you said you recently had a ECG (and saying "no underlying medical cause") maybe you have already done this.

My suggestions would be to focus on the basics.

- Get your lower back fixed: have you been to a physio? Lower-back exercises? etc

- Find ways to handle stress. Stress is a killer. Physical exercise might help you relieve stress, but there might be other simple ways like a non-demanding hobby, socialise, etc.

- Work on your diet, and get plenty of energy food. While you might have a sedentary occupation, if you are concentrating hard for 9-hours you are going to deplete a lot of energy. Make sure you fuel yourself well. Stickies in this thread will help.

The suggestions are a bit wishy-washy, but it's important that you tackle the underlying issues and not exhaust/injure yourself even further.

Ostrom

Thanks for the replies,

I dont enjoy any sports -used to play tennis a good bit but not for a good few years.

I have had a very extensive medical exam, and nothing noteworthy came out, except perhaps a dietary intolerance which I am currently following up. I had physio some years ago, and was treated by an orthopedic surgeon at the time - I just haven't been taking as good care of it as I should.

I'm fairly sure the tiredness is lifestyle related, I can tolerate high activity well when I need to. I'll get reading the stickies too, thanks.